Personal growth through navigating the world as an artist: a qualitative study of the impact of creativity camp on adolescents with depression

Background: A growing body of literature suggests that creative arts interventions can effectively support mental health and well-being in young people. We recently reported that after participating in “Creativity Camp”– a 2-week creative arts group intervention– 69 adolescents with depression showed significantly reduced depression symptoms and improved ratings of well-being. To understand the key processes impacting adolescents during and after this intervention, this study applies a multi-informant qualitative data approach. Method: Qualitative data collection methods included participatory observation notes taken during the Creativity Camp sessions and interviewing the adolescents and their parents or guardians at the end of the intervention and six months later. We analyzed data using Constructivist Grounded Theory and triangulated the findings from both sets of data to gain comprehensive and reliable interpretation. Results: We found several key processes in the adolescents’ experiences during and after camp: internal negotiation between novelty and discomfort, exploring playfulness and responsibility, discovering the uniqueness of self and others, flexible approach toward life, and an expanded view of creativity. From parent interviews, we found that their children expanded personal boundaries and enthusiasm through deep engagement, empowered perspective, and sustained enthusiasm. Triangulating the data from both sources, we constructed a theory that explains the benefits of Creativity Camp on adolescent well-being: “Personal growth by navigating the world as an artist.” Discussion: The qualitative analysis identified key processes from the Creativity Camp intervention, along with changes and long-term impacts that may have fostered personal growth. The framework of navigating the world through an artist’s lens as a pathway to personal growth presents a novel contribution to existing knowledge and practice in art-based interventions for adolescents with depression. This insight can help shape the design of future arts-in-health approaches for supporting adolescent mental health.